Aging Within the Homeless Population

More than 280,000 Americans currently live in permanent supportive housing (PSH), and nearly half of those residents are over 50. As more Americans move into PSH, there is an increasing need to address aging in place. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the first of its kind, will be instrumental in developing a framework to match PSH residents with facilities that meet their needs as they age.

Within the study, 240 PSH residents over the age of 45 were interviewed about chronic physical and mental health conditions associated with aging. Participants had lived in PSH for an average of 4.7 years and experienced homelessness for an average of eight years prior to entering housing.